Posted on 10/31/2026 4:13:00 PM PDT by thegagline
Iran’s strikes on more than two dozen US bases in the Middle East focused on early-warning systems before hitting aircraft and buildings, causing billions of dollars in equipment damage, according to an Associated Press analysis.
The AP independently verified damage to American targets using satellite imagery from multiple providers and spoke to four regional officials who were briefed or have firsthand knowledge of what was hit. The AP found that, through August, more than 115 drone or missile strikes claimed by Iran or Iranian-backed militias damaged or destroyed structures on 26 military bases and other sites with US equipment.
The AP found that Iran initially focused its attacks on aircraft hangars and systems that detect incoming strikes, clearing the way for further strikes on warehouses, troop housing and more.
The damage has significantly reshaped the American foothold in the Middle East, with two regional officials saying the US has moved many of its assets out of the Persian Gulf. ***
*** It found that from April 1 to June 30, Iranian strikes had damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings and other structures on US bases.
Such assessments provide the only overall snapshot because the Trump administration and the US military have provided few details about the toll of the conflict on people and equipment, even putting measures in place to impede outside review, such as delays in the release of satellite images.
US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, has refused to comment on or specify damage to bases or equipment, usually citing the need for operational security. The command did not comment for this story.***
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofisrael.com ...
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According to the CRS October 10, 2026 report, 81 U.S. aircraft have been damaged or destroyed since hostilities began on February 28, 2026.
Not good. China?
That’s worth firing 100+ flag ranks.
Old news regurgitated just in time for the mid terms.
>Such assessments provide the only overall snapshot because the Trump administration and the US military have provided few details about the toll of the conflict on people and equipment, even putting measures in place to impede outside review, such as delays in the release of satellite images.
Gee, you mean the Trump Administration did not help Iran with their battle damage assessment?
Imaging that!
So who ought face the firing squad for this? How much is military, how much is our politicians?
Zero, just bury the soldiers.
Time to finish this.
No surprise. This is why Trump’s throttled operations were a mistake. He needed to reduce Iran to rifle infantry by hitting everything more substantial than needed to arm leg infantry. Instead, he not only stopped US air attacks, he prevented Israel from carrying them out. This stupid tack is why we have record high diesel. Instead of finishing the job and maybe killing 100K Iranian troops, he used the air attacks to send a message. This is LBJ territory - binding the aviators hand and foot while giving the enemy time to recover. Next time Trump wants to send a message - Western Union works. The air force is for reducing the enemy to rubble, not sending notes to the other guy.
No surprise. This is why Trump’s throttled operations were a mistake. He needed to reduce Iran to rifle infantry by hitting everything more substantial than needed to arm leg infantry. Instead, he not only stopped US air attacks, he prevented Israel from carrying them out. This stupid tack is why we have record high diesel. Instead of finishing the job and maybe killing 100K Iranian troops, he used the air attacks to send a message. This is LBJ territory - binding the aviators hand and foot while giving the enemy time to recover. Next time Trump wants to send a message - Western Union works. The air force is for reducing the enemy to rubble, not sending notes to the other guy.
No surprise. This is why Trump’s throttled operations were a mistake. He needed to reduce Iran to rifle infantry by hitting everything more substantial than needed to arm leg infantry. Instead, he not only stopped US air attacks, he prevented Israel from carrying them out. This stupid tack is why we have record high diesel. Instead of finishing the job and maybe killing 100K Iranian troops, he used the air attacks to send a message. This is LBJ territory - binding the aviators hand and foot while giving the enemy time to recover. Next time Trump wants to send a message - Western Union works. The air force is for reducing the enemy to rubble, not sending notes to the other guy.
Bookmark!
Bookmark!
A dozen "damaged" "structures", for journalistic comparison:
Repair of a "damaged" "structure":
Meanwhile, Iran's entire Air Force and Navy have been destroyed, it's currency has crashed to 2,700,000 to the dollar, and the oil revenue that it depends upon has completely halted.
“LBJ territory”
Dead On.
Was my first thought when he backed off.
Advice to Don: take LeMay’s advice and bomb them back to the Stone Age.
Call it Linebacker III.
We also need to realize that any targeting Iran was able to do was because of either China, Russia, or both. It's way past time we realize that buying anything from China, unless there is absolutely have no other choice, is committing national suicide.
China, like Islamists - including the IRGC, think deceit is an art form that is to be mastered and used. China was at war with us even back when GHW Bush was pushing to establish closer ties with them. They fought against us in the Korean War just over twenty years before GHW Bush was sucking up to them as an ambassador. We threw them a lifeline to international growth and credibility, and they grabbed it and fashioned it into a noose to hang us with. We were stupid then, and continue to be.
“Trump’s throttled operations were a mistake... Instead of finishing the job...”
I would argue that finishing the job, would be replacing the regime.
Doing that solely through direct application of US Military power would likely require a land war in Asia - with concomitant high US casualties, and huge expense, including massive depletion of long lead time smart munitions.
Instead, President Trump has effectively choked off funding to the regime, setting conditions for Iranians themselves, possibly with involvement of regional powers, to provide all the boots on the ground. Trading time (at political expense to himself) while conserving the lives of US Service Members.
That regime is under more severe financial duress than anytime in its history, and the bulk of the population is facing the worst economy in their lifetime. Primed to blow.
Trump should have started with the embargo, but I guess the opportunity to kill a ton of leadership leap frogged all other options.
The Iranians received the Beidou GPS that they used to target our facilities. If we see Chinese supply aircraft landing in Teheran we need to obliterate it. Of course the Chinese have infiltrated our DOD workforce.
This is the new reality: asymmetric warfare using cheap and readily available tech and explosives. Fabrication and importation of drones is distributed and can't be stopped.
What can be stopped is nuclear enrichment. Also missile fabrication. If Iran wants to close the Strait that's fine with me, we will eventually get by without it.
The air force is for reducing the enemy to rubble,
Easy to say. Iran is 500 times larger than Gaza (much more but I'm just comparing area that would need to be reduced to rubble). Not sure how big our dumb bomb arsenal is but we'd probably use it up.
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